The Lord “has had His endowments long ago,” Elder Wilford Woodruff testified; “it is thousands and millions of years since He received His blessings.” 1 (This infers that he received them in the pre-existence.)

The nature and extent of these ancient ordinances and exactly where in the temple buildings they were performed has been the subject of much fruitless speculation. The Old Testament describes in detail the
sacrifices and other performances associated with the lesser priesthood and the Mosaic Law, but says nothing about any higher ordinances. “Because such ordinances are sacred and not for the world,” Elder Joseph Fielding Smith explained, no detailed account of them has been made available. “There are, however, in the Old Testament references to covenants and obligations under which the members of the Church in those days were placed, although the meaning is generally obscure.” 2

Interestingly, the temple ordinances received during the New Testament period were not given at Herod’s Temple. Elder Joseph Fielding Smith believed that Peter, James, and John received their endowment on the Mount of Transfiguration. 3

President Heber C. Kimball likewise stated that the early Apostles received these blessings at the hands of the Savior himself. 4

The New Testament confirms that some sacred truths taught to the faithful disciples were not appropriate for the world to have. Jesus specifically charged the three Apostles to speak to no one concerning what had
transpired on the mount (Matthew 17:9).

1 Wilford Woodruff, in Journal of Discourses (London: Latter-day Saints’ Book Depot, 1854–86), 4:192.

2 Joseph Fielding Smith, “Was Temple Work Done in the Days of the Old Prophets?” Improvement Era, November 1955, 794.

3 Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 2:165.

4 Heber C. Kimball, in Journal of Discourses, 10:241.

It’s important to remember that remission of sins isn’t the only reason we get baptized. Baptism is also a requirement to enter the path that leads to eternal life. “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” Jesus is not exempt from the requirements of the Gospel. So while He didn’t need baptism for forgiveness, He did need it to fulfill all righteousness.

I would argue that, like baptism, Jesus didn’t need to participate in the “saving” ordinances because, well, He didn’t need to be saved. Or, if He did, it could have been among some of the “plain and precious truths” to be removed or omitted from the Bible.

As Gramps stated, “there is no record of this occurring”, however I believe it is clear from Joseph Smith and others that Jesus must have received ALL of the ordinances of the temple, even if the Biblical account is silent as to when, how, and by whom.